Language program brings people together

Published 8:00 pm, Thursday, June 12, 2008

Steven Restropo said he wasn't nervous about singing "La Tierra," a Spanish song on stage because it's "so popular everyone knows it, even in America."

The fourth-grader, originally from Colombia, was part of a group of students performing at the English Language Learner End-of-School-Year Celebration at Brookside Elementary Thursday night.

The annual event allows students and parents from other countries to meet each other, said William Restropo, Steven's father.

"This is my first time at the event," Restropo said. "Both my children are in the ELL program and this is a good way to see the diversity in Norwalk."

His daughter, Alejandra agreed.

"All my friends are from different countries," she said. "And all the schools are here. We can meet everybody and share our story."

Students were celebrating the end of a successful year with an event featuring food, songs and dances from different cultures represented in the ELL program.

Marla Sterling, a Nathan Hale Language Arts teacher and professional storyteller, spoke to parents and students about the importance of telling stories to children.

She entertained students with an animated rendition of "Stone Soup" a folktale with origins in Europe. Students also made summer activity books with wordgames, mazes and drawings.

"The program makes people get together," said Alejandra as she danced with her friends.

Although most of the ELL population are from Spanish-speaking countries, there were East Asian, South Asian, European and Caribbean immigrants. And the diversity was reflected in the food which ranged from spicy samosas to sugary baklava.

Salina Paul came dressed in a bright orange Salwar-Kameez -- a traditional Indian dress -- with her family and son, Samson.

Originally from New Delhi, the family speaks English well but Samson uses the program to assimilate to a different lifestyle.

"The ELL program is really good because it's a different way of learning (in the U.S.)," Salina said. "And with this event we can share a bit of our home."

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Staff writer Nina Sen covers education. She may be reached at (203) 354-1005 or nsen@thehour.com.